Chapter 0001

I walk down the hallway with a racing heart and wobbly legs. Clutching my books to my chest, I avoid bumping into the students that are gradually flooding the hallway. I hold onto the straps of my torn, old-fashioned leather handbag and try shoving through the crowd.

I'm scared to my wits and I'm not so sure why. Maybe it's the familiar ambiance of the school that's freaking me out. It's been a month since I was here. Summer vacation ended on Friday, and today is Monday. First day of a new session. I had a series of nightmares about today. But so far, it's been quiet. No one's picking on me, driving me nuts, making me kiss their feet, yanking my hair, or making me bull's eyes for whatever dirty pranks the students come up with.

Just had three classes and I've not had one tragedy befall me. It's weird, and it's scaring the fuck out of me. I'm never without problems. Never without bullies trying to make my fucked-up life even more fucked-up.

I can smell my predators, I feel them lurking around, probably trying to come up with a more inhumane prank. Something that's gonna hurt more than the last. The wait is killing me. I just want them to come after me already, and let's get it over and done with. I just might go crazy from this suspense.

You might think I'm insane but I'm not, I'm just a victim of unending misfortune and bullying. My life has been nothing short of misery and tears. So you could say I got used to it. Now I'm scared when things seem to be turning out great. Like, they never do. So why try to get my hopes up?

I'm Emily Lopez. I'm a nerdy or a weak Lycan, and a terrible loner. I don't have friends, because no one would wanna be seen around a girl who attracts so much trouble to herself.

Bloodhound Pack has always been my home. It is the strongest and most dominating Pack in the Lycan kingdom. Other Packs swear allegiance to us, and our Alpha takes care of them. Being a member of Bloodhound Pack is the perfection in my resume. It remains the only thing that gives me a little peace of mind and significance.

I grew up in an orphanage in the slum area of the Pack. They said I lost my . I lost my mother a year after my birth, and that's when I got confined in an orphanage since my father was too busy to take care of me.

At age ten, I went to live with my stepmother, Harper Lopez, and her daughter, Evelyn Lopez. I was young and naive. Dared to think life would get all rosy if I got to stay with the last family I have. How wrong I was!

Harper is a witch in Lycan clothing and her daughter is no better than her. Evelyn is a month younger than me, but she can make the world spin off balance with the lies she tells and her devious acts.

There's no remedy for her. She is already past redemption, and that's me putting it mildly.

Now, those two witches are just the best part of my nightmarish life. The real devils that make my life hell are 'The Johnsons', or 'the Alpha-Princes' as they're popularly known.

Alpha Lyon is the Alpha - King of our prestigious Pack and he has quadruplets as heirs to his Alpha position when he gets too old to hold the reins.

Lucas Johnson, Lincoln Johnson, Lynn Johnson, and Larry Johnson were the Alpha princes. They are my predators and the bane of my existence. As deep as memory lane runs, I've never had a peaceful day here in Hilton High, and that's all thanks to the Johnsons.

Snickering and endless whisperings have me glancing at the students. A bunch of them are stealing glances at me and muttering unpleasant stuff that I could pretty much hear.

I choose to ignore it. What else can I do? I should get used to this by now. This is my senior year in high school, and I've been laughed at since my first day here, so yeah, I shouldn't get affected anymore.

But it hurts. Damn, it fucking hurts. Still, I'm determined to get away from them, get to my locker, and prepare for my next class.

Tears clog my vision and I lower my head to wipe them off. Then I hear a loud 'watch out!' coming from some random student riding a skateboard through the hallway.

I move away rather quickly to avoid getting hit by him, but then I make an abrupt bump into a taut body and it sends me falling butt-first on the floor.

My curly sandy blonde hair covers my face in the fall, and I couldn't see who it was I bumped into. Until I hear his voice.

“If it isn't four-eyed Emily, making us aware of her presence,“ His cocky voice jolts fear through my skin.

I adjust my glasses as I look up at him and I'm met with his icy, hazel eyes. A low gasp leaves my lips. His smirk is menacing, and I just know my peaceful hours are over.

His name is Lynn Johnson, the third of the quadruplets. The Johnsons are known for their impeccable good looks and Lynn didn't come short on that.

With his nifty outfits and his sneakers, Lynn is always spot on. He's never in black outfits. Except he has to go in the same outfits as his brothers and black was the color for the day.

His dark, golden blonde hair always drapes to the side of his face, concealing his right eye from sight. One time, it stirred up a rumor that his right eye was damaged. He had to make a statement on it, clearing the rumor. Said it was just a part of his fashion statement and his right eye is perfectly okay.

“I'm so sorry, Lynn. I didn't see you there–“ I mumble, picking up my books that fell in different directions.

A low hiss reverberates from him and I shudder and move backward.

“OMG, you're Lynn? Fuck, I thought you were Larry!“ One of the blonde girls with him gasps. I didn't realize he had company until she spoke.

“I can be anything and anyone for you, babe. Don't get all worked up for nothing,” He flashes a smile at her, trying to hold her hand but she moves away.

”I'm sorry but I gotta go,“ She motions at her friends and they walk away.

I pick up my books and stand but I'm frozen at the spot. I can't move, he has me pinned with his eyes.

“You can't help being so sickening, can you, nerd?” He said in a glacial tone. His pose is casual, with his hands in his pockets. But his words are venomous.

”I-I'm so sorry,”

”For what exactly?” He scoffs, “For being the only one in the school who can identify my brothers and I, or for showing off that fact in every chance you get?“

My head hangs low and I'm close to tearing up. Memories of mid-school storm my mind. Back when it all started. Back when I signed up for an eternity of torture from the quadruplets.